Chapter 28

Jasmine


"Don't put makeup on her, she looks beautiful anyways," Lucien spoke raising his gaze from the magazine in his hand and looking in my direction.

The maid nodded and put the brush aside, the other maid focused on my hair and styled it, curling it a bit from the front and spraying a very light fragrance that did not overpower my own scent.

Well, basically the point of these small touch-ups was because of the arrival of their father and maybe some people who held importance.

I was quite nervous because of the way they got me look presentable and the extraordinary outfit that included a set of ornaments too seemed like they had the intention of making a revelation.

Amidst the worry and possibility of something unwanted happening, there was this bothering question that rose within me about my identity.

The missing part of my memory and the flashbacks that were still there but had let me get a hold of them was making me question my own existence.

How could I see the blurred visions of the faces that felt like they belonged to the people I had known my entire life, how could I see the fire crashing everything down? How had I reached the side of the river where Martha told me she rescued me from?

My thoughts were in chaos but not in the way anyone could see through them, they resided in the disturbing silence I wanted to erase but pushing them away was not going to work whereas I was trapped in the mess I did know who had created.

"What are you thinking about, little one?" Micheal's voice broke my chain of thoughts and it was then I realized that all the maids have left and I was sitting in front of the mirror on my own looking distantly outside the window that lead to the view of the beautiful moon.

"Nothing, I just zoned out," I shrugged it off and flashed him a smile.

He did not seem convinced with my answer but he did not press it too, he nodded and walked toward me before he took my hand in his, pulling me to stand on my feet.

His eyes stared at me for a while, taking a look at my face before he spoke, "You are looking gorgeous," A smile tugged at his lips and I felt my heart flutter.

"Thanks," I blushed.

Micheal's smile widened but then his gaze began drifting towards my neck where it got fixated, his jaws tightened and his eyes darkened in the red ink whilst his fangs abruptly began to grow.

A surprised gasp left my mouth instantly as my eyes took in the sight, his blue veins began standing out and his skin got paler

Micheal violently shook his head and let go of my hand as if I had burned him. His feet automatically took multiple-step backward, his hands forming fists and breathing coming out as pants,

"Micheal , Calm down," Lucien's loud command was instantly heard and in seconds I found Archer standing in front of me, his frame shielding me from Micheal who now no longer seemed like himself.

A loud animalistic sound left Micheal's mouth and he forced himself to back away further, his red eyes never moving from me.

"W-what's happening?" I asked, the panic getting the best of me.

I got no reply from anyone, Lucien stood a few feet away from Micheal as if he was there to tackle down any danger coming from Archer, or maybe the danger they could see in Micheal at that moment.

Another loud growl from Micheal echoed the room, his nails began extending and I could see him fighting to keep his wings under his skin as if it was the last chance for him to overcome this storm, his struggle of him became more evident as his shirt started tearing up from the backside where his black wings started to tear through.

"Micheal...." Unable to control myself anymore I tried to get to him but before I could even take the second step Archer grabbed my arm and pushed me back to where I was.

"Jasmine, No!" The tone Archer used was full of alarm.

What could the brothers see in Micheal today that was making the react this way? Being alert about something I did not know.

The unknown restlessness within Micheal who had always been the one who had control over himself, What could be the reason behind it?

The way Micheal's red eyes set on me seemed like....I was the reason.

Another loud pained sound left his mouth, and I could see the tears gathering in his eyes and him visibly suffocating despite the air being full of oxygen.

"Micheal's hurting..." The trembling whisper was all I could utter, seeing him in pain stirred awake a part I did know was there within me....As if I could feel his pain too.

"He'll be fine, babe," Archer assured, "Please listen to me and don't try to go near him, now."

I worriedly glanced back at Micheal, I wanted to wipe away his suffering but the helplessness had rooted as Archer kept me locked in my place.

I could not understand why they were keeping me away from him all of a sudden as if he was a threat to me, as if he could cause any serious injury whereas all I could see was him suffering trying to control his feral that seemed awakened to the point where it was nearly impossible to tame it.

"Michael...take deep breaths," Lucien instructed carefully walking closer to him.

Micheal's red eyes moved to look at Lucien, the beast seemed to be taking control for a second as the glare was sent in his way but then he violently shook his head backing away further.

"Take deep breaths, Micheal," Lucien spoke louder, "Don't let it take control, you don't want to lose her....remember!"

Upon his statement, the realization seemed to pass through Micheal's eyes, he looked at me but not in the manner he had a few minutes before...there was the tenderness that started appearing again.

I saw him inhaling a heavy breath and clench his fists, his lips pressing together as he closed his eyes. The sound of his skin taking the smallest part of his wings that had appeared tearing through his short back into it was heard.

He emitted a pained hiss as he forced his nails to sink back into his skin, the paleness on him disappeared inchmeal and then the breath he emitted did not sound unusual anymore.

I saw Archer's shoulders relaxing and his grip on me loosening, Lucien heaved out a sigh of relief, and then Micheal finally opened his eyes. They were no longer blood red anymore.

They were normal and looked like him, he looked like himself.

"Are you okay?" Lucien asked him and he nodded, his breathing was still heavier but not in that alarming way anymore.

"It is near and very strong this time, it might not be as easy as we had thought," Micheal's voice was lower than a whisper yet I managed to hear it somehow.

"We'll figure something out, don't worry," Lucien said patting his back.

And then their attention finally fell on me, I felt the tear rolling down my cheek I did not even realize had gathered till now and the almost apologetic look took over their faces.

"Jasmine....I-I," Micheal attempted to say something but before he could even finish his sentence the words automatically left my mouth.

"Can I hug you now? Please? " My lips trembled as I spoke, more tears rolled down my cheeks.

The surprise flickered in his eyes as though he had not expected to react this way, the gaze so readable that I could tell that he had thought I'd run away from them in fright.

But the only thing that scared me was his pain, the thought of anything unwanted happening to any of them. The thought of losing them--A part of my soul.

Michael did not say anything else instead he just opened his arms and faster than ever, I ran into his arms embracing him with all my strength.

My head buried in his chest and a quiet sob tore through, I could not even imagine what I would have done if anything happened to him or any of them.

"I am sorry that I scared you," Micheal said grabbing my face into his hands, "I am so sorry," he wiped my tears and then he kissed my cheeks then my forehead, and every corner of my skin.

"The only thing that scared me was the thought of any of you getting hurt," I hiccuped, "I thought something bad would happen to you."

"As long as you are here, nothing can hurt us," He flashed me a small smile caressing my face, "You are our strength."

"I can't live without you all, I'd rather die than see you all getting hurt and...." The rest of my sentence remained unfinished as he put his finger on my lips.

"You are going to stay with us forever, okay? Don't ever bring such thoughts into your head, and nothing is going to defeat us as long as you are here." He spoke, the time sterner yet holding devotion and tenderness to it.

I nodded sniffling and threw myself in his arms once again. The embrace of him assuring me that he was safe and unharmed, with me.

A few moments I broke the hug as the very obvious question rose within me.

"Why caused you to react the way you did?" I asked and the silence fell in the room.